Adjustable foot for palletized loads



Oct. 30, 1962 R. SHILE 3,061,257

ADJUSTABLE FOOT FOR PALLETIZED LOADS Filed March 6, 1961 United StatesPatent 3,061,257 ADJUSTABLE FOOT FOR PALLETIZED LOADS Raymond Shile, 12Wolf Road, Croton on Hudson, NY. Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,617Claims. (Cl. 248-193) This invention relates generally to the field ofmaterial handling, and more particularly to an improved adjustable footconstruction for use in conjunction with metal and wood pallets of atype used for supporting relatively heavy loads for convenient handlingby means of fork lift trucks and the like. I

Devices of this type have found increasing acceptance in recent years,and have materially facilitated the loading and unloading of vehicles,the storage of palletized loads either in horizontal or vertical stackeddisposition. To facilitate vertical stacking of the devices, they havenormally been provided with vertically disposed angle iron leg elementstogether with a funnel-shaped foot which permits the camming of the legsof stacked pallets into coaxial alignment. The funnel-shapedconstruction, while durable and accomplishing its desired end, has hadtwo accompanying disadvantages, one of which is the tendency to damageflooring upon which it is disposed during horizontal shifting, as whenmoving a loaded pallet to a desired position upon the floor, and theother of which is the difficulty in arranging a plurality of pallets inclose horizontal proximity, because of the fact that thefeet positionedon the lower extremities of the leg members extend outwardly of thehorizontal dimensions of the pallet itself. j

It is therefore among the principal objects of the pres ent invention toprovide an improved foot construction of the class described in whichthe above-mentioned disadvantages have been substantially eliminated.

' Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedpalletized load foot construction in which the principal load-supportingsurfaces thereof are of a curved natu-r'e'with a complete elimination ofrelatively sharp edges, whereby the same may be readily slid across awood floor or similar damageable surface without substantially marringthe same.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of animproved-pivotally mounted cam element or plurality of the' sameassociated with thelower extremity of each leg member of a pallet whichmay be moved between either of two positions, in a first position ofwhich the camming surfaces thereof are maintained in an inoperativesubstantially vertical orientation, and in a second position of whichthey are aligned to engage the upper edges of a leg member disposedtherebeneath and upon which the pallet with which the camming device isassociated is supported.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of structure ofthe class described in which the cost of fabrication may be of areasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the inventive structuremay be incorporated into existing metallic pallets at very low cost.

Another feature of the invention lies in the substantial durability ofthe inventive structure as contrasted with prior art constructions.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecooresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof, showing aplurality of the inventive devices held in inoperative position.

3,061,257 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryview in elevation showing the side opposite that seen in the lowerportion of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged horizontal view as seen from the plane 44 inFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation, showing the sideopposite that seen from the left central portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view as seen fromthe plane 6-6 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a view in elevation as seen from the plane 7-7 in FIGURE 4.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, is shown in conjunction with a conventionalload-supporting platform means, generally indicated by referencecharacter 11, which may be of a type similar to that disclosed in myco-pending application, Serial No. 837,067, filed August 31, 1959,entitled, Collapsible Stacking Material Handling Devices. The means 11includes a generally horizontally disposed floor 12 and a plurality ofvertically extending angle iron legs 13 including first and secondflanges 14 and 15, respectively. The lower end portion 16 forms acontinuous generally horizontally disposed edge surface. The device 10is adapted to be secured to the end portion 16, and includes first andsecond camming elements 17 and 18, respectively, as well as a generallyhemispheroidally-shaped supporting element 19.

The first and second camming elements 17 and 18 are generally similar,each including first and second angularly disposed portions 21 and 22,respectively, interconnected by a bend portion 23. The first portion 21is bounded by side edges 25 and 26, an end edge 27 an upper surface 28and a lower surface 29. A bore 30 of generally circular configurationextends through the plane of the member 21 between the surfaces 28 and29. An inner edge 31 interconnects with the bend portion 23,.

The second portoin 22 is generally triangularly-shaped, to permitmovement within the interior of the element 19, and is bounded by firstand second outer edges 32 and 33 as well as a third edge 34 whichinterconnects with the bend portion 23. v

The bend portion 23 is preferably formed integrally with the first andsecond portions 21 and 22, preferably by forging, and includes an outercurved surface 37, an inner curved surface 38, as well as side edges 39'and 40.

The supporting element 19 is also preferably formed as a casting orforging, and includes an inner surface 43, an outer surface 44, upperedges 45 and 46, as well as a curvilinear edge 47. Extending into theupper edges 45 and 46 are first and second elongated slots 48 and 49corresponding in length to the Width of the bend portion 23 as measuredbetween the side edges 39 and 40. The device 10 is assembled to therespective leg member 13 by welding along the upper edges 45 and 46after first positioning the cam members 21 and 22 within the slots 48and 49. In this condition, the cam members 21 and 22 are capable oflimited pivotal movement from the posi tion shown in FIGURE 6 to thatshown in FIGURE 3.

As will be evident from a consideration of FIGURE 1, each of the legs 13of a platform means 11 is provided with a device 10. When free ofinterconnection with adjoining devices, the cam members 21 and 22 willnormally assume the position shown in FIGURE 6, wherein the corner 51formed by the interconnection of the edges 32 and 33 will contact theinner surface 43 of the element 19, at which point substantialequilibrium is achieved. In this condition, the means 11 may be shiftedabout and stacked upon each other, the outer surface 44 of the elements19 cooperating with the lower surfaces 29 of the first portions 21 toearn the upper free edges of the legs 13 into the coextensive positionsshown in FIGURE 1. Where a plurality of means 11 are placed in abuttedsideby-side relationship, the free end edges 27 contact each other topivot the cam elements 17 and 18 to the positions shown in FIGURE 3,wherein the legs 13 may be placed in abutting relation, the cammingelements maintaining this position until subsequent movement occursbetween the adjacent means 11. Where desired, the bores 30 may beengaged by hoisting means (not shown) in such manner that the cammingactoin of the device is in no way hindered.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly usefulimprovements in adjustable feet for palletized loads, in which thefunctions of prior art devices are retained with a complete eliminationof their accompanying disadvantages. Owing to the presence of a curvedlower surface on the supporting element which contacts a floor or othersupporting surface, the palletized load may be slid over the floorwithout damage to the same, and, upon the subsequent positioning of aplurality of palletized loads in close proximity, the camming means isshifted to an inoperative position whereby it occupies no substantialspace, and whereby the palletized loads may be placed in mutual abuttedrelation.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. An adjustable foot construction for supporting palletized loadscomprising: -a generally vertically disposed leg member having first andsecond mutually angularly disposed flanges, a rounded base elementinterconnected to the lower extremity of said leg member, there being avtransverse through opening in the area of the interconnection of saidleg member and said base element, and a camming element positioned forpivotal movement within said opening.

2. An adjustable foot construction for supporting palletized loadscomprising: a generally vertically disposed leg member having first andsecond mutually angularly disposed flanges, a rounded base elementinterconnected to the lower extremity of said leg member, there being atransverse through opening in the area of the interconnection of saidleg member and said base element, and a camming element positioned forpivotal movement within said opening; said camming element including afirst member disposed inwardly of said leg member and a second memberdisposed outwardly of said leg member.

3. An adjustable foot construction for supporting palletized loadscomprising: :a generally vertically disposed leg member having first andsecond mutually angularly disposed flanges, a rounded base elementinterconnected to the lower extremity of said leg member, there being atransverse through opening in the area of the interconnection of saidleg member and said base element, and a camming element positioned forpivotal movement within said opening; said camming element including afirst member disposed inwardly of said leg member and a second memberdisposed outwardly of said leg member, said outer member being movablebetween two po= sitions, in one of which it lies substantiallyvertically disposed, and in another of which it lies at an angle withrespect to the vertical.

4. An adjustable foot construction for supporting palletized loadscomprising: a generally vertically disposed leg member having first andsecond mutually angularly disposed flanges, a rounded base elementinterconnected to the lower extremity of said leg member, there being atransverse through opening in the area of the interconnection of saidleg member and said base element, and a camming element positioned forpivotal movement within said opening; said camming element including afirst member disposed inwardly of said leg member and a second memberdisposed outwardly of said leg member, said outer member being movablebetween two positions, in one of which it lies substantially verticallydisposed, and in another of which it lies at an angle wit respect to thevertical, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said camelement between said two positions.

5. An adjustable foot construction for supporting palletized loadscomprising: a generally vertically disposed leg member having first andsecond mutually angularly disposed flanges, a rounded base elementinterconnected to the lower extremity of said leg member, there being atransverse through opening in the area of the interconnection of saidleg member and said base element, and a camming element positioned forpivotal movement within said opening; said camming element including afirst member disposed inwardly of said leg member and a second memberdisposed outwardly of said leg member, said outer member being movablebetween two positions, in one of which it lies substantially verticallydisposed, and in another of which it lies at an angle with respect tothe vertical, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said camelement between said two positions; said base element having a curvedouter surface extending below said cam element when disposed in avertical position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,440,847 Charley May 4, 1948

